After weeks of public outcry, petitions and appeals to religious and traditional leaders, Muslim traders at the Ojatuntun Otisese Weekly Market in Ile-Ife, Osun State, have been exempted from paying compulsory levies tied to the annual Olojo Festival.
About two weeks ago, the Ile-Ife branch of the Artisans, Peasants and Traders Association of Nigeria (APTAN) raised an alarm over what it described as “unlawful extortion” by men who stormed the market and forcefully seized traders’ goods for refusing to pay the festival levies.
The group lamented that the harassment had persisted for over five years despite repeated appeals, arguing that compelling Muslims to fund traditional religious practices was not only against their faith but also in violation of Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion, and Section 44(1), which protects citizens against unlawful seizure of property.
Citing Qur’anic injunctions, the association insisted that contributing to activities rooted in Isese (traditional worship) was forbidden in Islam, and called on the Ooni of Ife, the Sultan of Sokoto, the NSCIA, MURIC, FOMWAN, and other Muslim bodies to intervene.
This plea was heeded and in a statement jointly signed on Thursday by its Coordinator and its Secretary, Mr Saidi Adegoke and Mr Monsur Jimoh, respectively, it was disclosed that the issues have been resolved, with goods earlier seized from traders returned to their rightful owners, while members were assured of freedom to transact without harassment, intimidation, or extortion.
APTAN described the outcome as a “victory for all,” stressing that its members who had long rejected the levies on the grounds of faith are now permanently excluded from contributing to Olojo Festival expenses.
“This serves as a reminder that dialogue, respect, and mutual understanding are the bedrocks of peace in our diverse community. We urge all artisans, peasants, and traders to see this outcome as a victory for all, not just for APTAN,” a part of the statement said.